Physician Assistants (PAs) are nationally certified and licensed healthcare professionals who practice medicine with a physician’s collaboration and/or supervision working as a team.
The Arizona-based, hybrid 24-month Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Program is designed to prepare PAs to provide compassionate care with the highest level of clinical excellence and ethical standards. We develop PAs who are patient advocates, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners. We nurture the development of culturally sensitive leaders who embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion to serve patients within their communities. Explore a technology-rich environment where you will attend classes virtually. Your clinical training will include rotations in family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, behavioral medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, and two elective rotations. Develop hands-on, practical skills during scheduled immersion weeks at the Goodyear, Arizona center. In addition to online instruction, in-person clinical experience is a vital component to the program. Full-time courses are designed for program completion in 24 months.
Mission
Our mission is to prepare Physician Assistants (PAs) to provide compassionate care with the highest level of clinical excellence and ethical standards. We develop PAs who are patient advocates, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners. We nurture the development of culturally sensitive leaders who embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion to serve patients within their communities.
Program Goals
• Recruit a talented and multicultural student body that corresponds to the diversity of the U.S. population.
• Offer a flexible schedule that encourages mindfulness and work-life balance. Our program utilizes multiple teaching and learning strategies using innovative technology to promote student success.
• Prepare graduates to become competent PAs with a first-time PANCE pass rate that meets or exceeds the national average.
MKPC (Medical Knowledge and Patient Care)
- MKPC
Demonstrate an understanding of the medical, behavioral, and social knowledge necessary to evaluate and manage patients across all ages and patient populations.
Interpersonal & Professional Skills (IPS)
- IPS 1
Elicit an accurate medical history from patients. - IPS 2
Perform a detailed physical exam relevant to the medical history. - IPS 3
Document a clinical encounter in the patient record. - IPS 4
Implement health maintenance and disease prevention screening and counseling to patients across the lifespan. - IPS 5
As a collaborative member of the healthcare team, accurately and concisely communicate patient encounters and outcomes in both oral and written forms. - IPS 6
Communicate effectively and respectfully with patients, families, or caregivers while considering emotional state, culture, and socioeconomic background to support shared medical decision-making.
Clinical & Problem Solving Skills (CPS)
- CPS 1
Develop a differential diagnosis for medical and behavioral problems seen in a primary care setting. - CPS 2
Recommend and interpret diagnostic studies (e.g., EKG, plain film X-rays) based on clinical indications, cost-effectiveness, and evidence-based guidelines. - CPS 3
Develop and implement an appropriate patient-centered management plan that includes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments. - CPS 4
Recognize patients requiring urgent or emergent care and initiate evaluation and management. - CPS 5
Identify system failures and contribute to a culture of safety and improvement.
Technical Skills (TS)
- TS 1
Demonstrate the ability to obtain informed consent and perform the following clinical procedures: Peripheral intravenous access; Joint injection and aspiration; Simple laceration repair including wound care and local anesthesia; Urinary catheterization; Pelvic speculum exams with specimen collection; Splinting; Incision and drainage of abscess; Shave and punch biopsy. - TS 2
Effectively utilize telemedicine equipment and determine which conditions are appropriate for treatment using telemedicine/telepsychiatry.
Professionalism (PROF)
- PROF
Demonstrate behaviors consistent with the highest ethical and legal standards.
Technical Standards
The following technical standards establish the essential qualities necessary for students enrolling in the M.P.A.S. Hybrid Program. Students must possess these qualities upon admission to the program and continue to demonstrate these standards throughout the program, in order to achieve the required level of competency stipulated for program advancement and graduation. Failure to do so will be grounds for dismissal from the program.
Observation and Sensation
• Candidates and graduates must possess sufficient visual, auditory, and tactile sensation to participate in the classroom, laboratory, and other educational or clinical settings.
• Must be able to receive verbal and nonverbal communications from patients and others, and to perform a complete patient physical exam.
Communication
• Candidates and graduates must be able to speak, hear, and observe patients, family members, and other clinicians.
• Communicate clearly and effectively through oral and written communication.
• Candidates and graduates must have the ability to receive and process communication from the healthcare team to respond in a timely manner and make appropriate decisions.
• Candidates and graduates must possess the skills to communicate attentively and sensitively to others while honoring the HIPAA policy.
Motor Function
• Candidates and graduates must have sufficient strength, coordination, dexterity, and equilibrium to perform the activities required of a physician assistant, including performing a physical examination utilizing diagnostic instruments and techniques required in auscultation, palpation, percussion, and diagnostic maneuvers.
• Must be able to manipulate medical equipment for basic laboratory tests and procedures such as airway management, suturing, needle placement & IV, stethoscope & ophthalmoscope, tongue blades, gynecologic speculum and scalpel.
• Candidates and graduates must have the physical stamina to sit, stand, and move within classroom, laboratory, examination rooms, treatment rooms, and operating rooms for long periods of time.
Intellectual Capability
• Candidates and graduates must possess clinical problem solving and reasoning skills to think critically with sound judgment, emotional stability, maturity, and empathy.
• Candidates and graduates must be able to accurately collect, measure, organize, prioritize, calculate, reason, analyze and integrate data to make decisions in a timely manner.
• Must be able to comprehend the medical literature to use this knowledge in problem solving and patient care.
• Must be able to interpret diagnostic testing and treatment regimens.
Behavioral and Social Proficiency
• Candidates and graduates must be able to establish and maintain appropriate professional relationships.
• Must work cooperatively with other members of the health care team.
• Must be able to prioritize competing demands and exercise good clinical judgment.
• Must be able to respond to emergencies in a calm and reasonable manner and handle physical, mental, and emotional stress while functioning effectively.
• Must be able to develop rapport with patients and their families as well as their colleagues.
• Must be able to demonstrate compassion, empathy, motivation, integrity, and flexibility while interacting with a diverse population.
• Must be able to accept criticism and modify behavior and practice as needed.
• Candidates and graduates must understand and apply ethical standards and responsibility in their daily practice.
• Candidates and graduates must demonstrate emotional stability to deliver the appropriate patient care in all settings.